Growing up in Graswijk, right next to the old TT Circuit, Frank van de Pol was exposed to roaring engines and speed devils from an early age. Van de Pol, now 76, has experienced motorsport up close and has collected quite a bit of stuff over more than 40 years. His current house in Bovensmilde seems like a treasure trove of motorsport history.
But what makes his collection so special?
For that we have to go back in time. Shortly after the start in 1983, Italian driver Franco Uncini crashed. He gets up and tries to crawl off the track, but is hit by another driver. The impact causes the helmet to pop off Unicini’s head and fly through the air.
Van de Pol still remembers the crash like it was yesterday. “Later, when they were cleaning the ambulance where Uncini had been, the under chin strap was still there and they gave it to me. And it has been here in the house for almost 41 years now,” says van de Pol. Where the rest of the helmet is remains a matter of guesswork.
Van de Pol’s house looks like a museum. “I worked as a volunteer at TT Circuit Assen for more than 40 years and worked at the gas station for years. Whenever I was free and there was something to do, I was at the circuit,” Van de Pol looks back. “Until about 16 years ago, motorsport came first for me. But then we found out that my son became ill.”
Van de Pol became a full-time informal caregiver for his son. Although he can no longer be found on the race circuit, he cherishes boxes full of memories from the past 40 years.
Each item tells a story, from exciting races to moving moments. Van de Pol may no longer be on the track, but his heart still beats in the rhythm of the engines that filled his life.